Camp trailer



Sept. 4 1934.

W. ANDERSON CAMP TRAILER Filed Sept. l0, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l lie W.Hndson W. ANDERSON Sept. 4, 1934.

CAMP TRAILER Filed Sept. l0, ,1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 4, 1934. WANDERSON 1,972,415

CAMP TRAILER Filed Sept. 10, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gmc/YM,

Patented Sept. 4, 1934 CAMP TRAILER William Anderson, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 10, 1932, Serial No. 832,58

3 Claims. (Cl. 296-26) This invention relates to a camp trailer, and

ber.

desired adjusting of the device It is also an object of the invention toprovide a trailer of this kind which can be compacted or collapsed inorder to facilitate its transportation yet which, when desired for use,can be extended or contracted with ease.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide `a trailercomprising a wheel supported main or central body together with sidebodies in telescoping relation with respect to the main or central bodywith means coacting with each of the side bodies for maintaining thesame in an eective upright position at all times.

The invention also has for an object to provide a device of this kindcomprising a central or'main body together with extensible andretractile side bodies associated therewith and also a top mem- Theinvention struction and in consists in the details of conthombinationand arrangement of the several parts of my improved camp trailerwherebycertain important advantages are attained and the device renderedsimpler, less expensive and .otherwise moresconvenient and advantageousfor use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I'willnowproceed to describe the `same with reference to the accompanyingdraw-V ings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a trailer constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of my invention and use;

Figure 2 is an in extended adjustment for enlarged fragmentary sectionalview taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection of the arrow;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view takensubstantially on the line ragmentary view I'in perspective adjustment;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly in sectionand of somewhat` a diagrammatic character illustrating the mount ing andarrangement of certain of the cables associated with a side member foreffecting and controlling the extending or retracting of said sidemember;

Figure 6 is a view in bottom plan of the trailer bodies as hereindisclosed and of somewhat a diagrammatic character illustrating themeans for effecting the `desired extension or retraction of the sidebodies;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on theline 7-7 of Figure 6.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, M denotes a main or centralwheel supported body of desired dimensions including the end cross sills1 and the longitudinal sills 2 together with a iioor 3 supportedthereon. This central or main l body M in its structure comprises cornerposts 4.

Each of ,these comer posts 4 is tubular and rectangular `in crosssection with its outer corner portion broken away, said corner portionhowever in the complete assembly being closed by an angle iron 5, theupper portions 5a of which being separable for a purpose to behereinafter referred to. These separableeportions 5a are removable butserve when applied 'to hold in position a top cross panei 6 embodied inan end wall structure. This panel 6 is adapted to be removed when thedevice is to be compacted or collapsedso that no hinderance orobstruction will be offered thereby to the top member 7 in its downwardmovement.

The top member 7 is of required dimensions and at each of its corners isprovided with an elongated depending member 8 which is slidably receivedwithin a corner post 4 at the cut-out corner portion thereof so that thefree edges 4a of the post 4 serve as the guiding medium for -the member8. The applied angle iron 5 serves to assure the member 8 beingmaintained in desired assembly with respect to a corner post 4 and it isalso to be stated that when the top member '7 is to be lowered the uppercut away portion 5a of each of the angle irons 5 as well as each oftheend panels 6 are removed. Each of these panels 6 as well as each portion5a of an angle iron 5 are returned to desired working position when thetop member 'l is raised inv its fully working position asis clearlyillustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.v f

Each of the members 8 has anchored, as at 9,

to the lower portion thereof a flexible member or cable 10 which extendsupwardly and over a pulley 11 rotatably mounted upon the upper portionof a side wall of the comer post 4. The cable 10 is then'continueddownwardly, as at 10', and

under the upper pulley 12 of a tackle 14. The member or cable is thenextended upwardly, as

at 10a, over the pulley 15 rotatably supported by a second wall of thecorner post 4 and then inwardly of the main body M, as at 10, forattachment, as at 16, to the upper rear portion of a v side body B. Theportion 10 as herein disclosed is freely directed through a suitablypositioned opening 17 in the first named wall of the corner post 4.

Secured, as at 18, to anupper outer corner of the side body B is asecond iiexible member oris anchoredor secured, as at 21, to a lowerrear corner portion of the body B. The walls of the post 4 are providedwith the openings 22 to allow for the passage therethrough of the cable19.

As each of the members 8 moves downwardly or upwardly with respect toits post 4 the arrangement and mounting of the cables 10 and 19 togetherwith the various pulleys associated therewith will act as eiectiveguides or supports for maintaining the associated side body B in anupright position at all times during its movement from its innermostposition to its outermost position.

Also secured, as at 23, to the lower portionof each of the posts 4 is acable 24 which extends up and over the lower pulley 25 of the tackle 14and then down and under a second pulley 26 rotatably supported by thelower portion of a side wall of the corner post 4. The cable 24 thenextends inwardly through a suitably positioned opening 27 in the cornerpost 4 to the central or main body AM and below the floor 3 of said bodyM to the winding drum 28. Certain of.' these cables 24 are also engagedwith suitably positioned guide pulleys 29. As particularly illus-'-trated in Figure 6 the drum 28 is common to all of the cables 24 androtates around an axis disposed lengthwise of the body M. This drum 28is also provided with a winding shaft 30 arranged beyond an end of thebody M so that said shaft 30 may be manually operated to rotatethe drum28 in the required direction to either raise or lower the top member 7.

As also particularly illustratedin Figure 6 the winding shaft 30 of thedrum 28 has operatively engaged therewith a coil spring 31 which, as theshaft 30 is rotated in a direction to allow the top member 7 to raise,is placed under tension whereby the lowering of said top member 7 willbe materially facilitated and in what may be termed an automatic manner.It is to be understood thatthe lowering of the top member 7 is furtherfacilitated by gravity as afforded by the weight of the top member 7 andits associated parts.

It is `also-believed to be self-evident that as the drum 28 is rotatedin one direction each of the side bodiesB will be extended and duringwhich operation the top member 7 will be raised and vice versa.l

To further facilitate the desired retraction of the sideV bodies B eachof said bodies adjacent l its outer corners has connected thereto theiiex- .floor 3.

ture. yThe inner end portion of the flexible member or cable 32 isanchored, as at 34, to the iloor 3 of the main body M. This cable ormember 32 also coacts with a pulley 35 rotatably supported by the fi`oor3. Engaged with the cable or member 32 between the pulley 3F and theconnection 34 is a block pulley 36 to which is secured a retractilespring 37 of desired tension, said spring being also anchored, as at 38,to the These springs 37 with their coacting block pulleys 36 cooperatewith the cables or flexible members 32 to facilitate in substantially anautomatic manner the desired inward or compacting movement or adjustmentof the side bodies B. v

Each of the side bodies B has its inner portion open so that itconstitutes a substantial continuity of the chamber of the main body Band more especially when in its extended or working position. l

The inner marginal portion of the top wall 39 of each of the side bodiesB is cut-out, as at 40, said cut-out portion extending substantiallyfrom one end of the top Wall 39 to the other but terminating a suficientdistance inwardly of each end of the body B to provide an inner topledge 41. The inner or free portion of each of such ledges 41 hashingedly connected thereto, as at 42, an end portion of a narrow panelor post 43 the opposite end portion of the post or panel 43 beinghingedly connected, as at 44, to the adjacent portion of the top member7. By this particular mounting of each of the panels or posts 43 as abody member B is moved outwardly' tion when said panels or posts 43 eachassume.

a vertical position. These panels or posts 43 may also be-termedequalizing posts as they assure the desired raising of the top member 7without binding or other hinderance or obstruction being offered by themembers 8.

The inner margin of the cut-out portion 40 of the top wall 39 of each ofthe side bodies B has hingedly connected thereto, as at 45, the lowermarginal portion ofthe outer side wall 46 of a window housing W. Thiswall 46 is provided at desired points thereon with the windows 47. Thishousing W is provided with the end walls 48 and a top wall 49 so when.the housing W is in its raised and working position said housingtogether with the raised panels or posts -43 will effectively close thesideportion of the trailer above the top wall 39 of theassociatedextended side body B as well as the cut-out portion 40 hereinbeforereferred to. Y

The upward and outward swinging movement of a window housing W, asparticularly illustratedin Figure 2, is limited by an upstanding flange50 defining the top wall 49 of the housing W which contacts from withinwith a depending side apron or wall 51 of the top member 7. When it isdesired to fold or compact the structure each of the housings W is swunginwardly and downwardly as illustrated more particularly in Figure 4 ofthe accompanying drawings whereupon after each of the top panels 6 hasbeen removed together with the portions 5a of the ang1e irons 5 the topmember 7 is free to move downwardly as the side bodies B travelinwardly.

Each of the corner posts 4 carries one or more anti-friction rollers 52to facilitate the inward and outward movement of the adjacent side bodyB. It is to be statedA that kindred anti-friction elements may bepositioned to further facilitate the travel of said side bodies.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a camptrailer constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which itmay be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that myinvention is susceptible of some change and modication without departingfrom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason Ido not wishto be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement andformation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my inventionin practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:-

1. A device of the class described comprising a main body, side bodiestelescopically engaged therewith, each of said side bodies having a topwall, the inner marginal portion of which being cut out substantiallyfrom one end of said top wall to the other but terminating a sufcientdistance inwardly of the ends to provide top ledges, a top membersupported by the main body for up and down movement, posts hingedlyconnected to outer marginal portions -of the top member and to the outerend portions of the top ledges of the side bodiesto raise the top memberwhen the sidebodies are moved outwardly and to hold the top memberraised while the side bodies are extended, a housing hingedly connectedto the inner marginal portion of the cut out portion of the top Wall ofeach of the side bodies and swinging into a position to close the spacebetween the side body when extended and the top member when raised, saidhousing being of a length substantially equal to the length of the cutout portion.

2. A device of the class described comprising a main body, side bodiestelescopically engaged 1 therewith, each of said side bodies having atop wall, the inner marginal portion of which being cut outsubstantially from one end of said top.

wall to the other but terminating a suiiicient distance inwardly of theends to provide topA to holdl the top member raised while the sideybodies are extended, a housing hingedly connect-V ed to the innermarginal portion of the cutout portion of the top wall of each of theside bodies and swinging into a position to close the space between theside body when extended and the top member when raised, said housingbeing of a length substantially equal to the length of thecut outportion, and a stop flange carried by the p housing for contact with thetop member when raised for limiting the movement of the housing whenswung out into working position.

3. A device .of the class described comprising a main body, side bodiestelescopically engaged therewith, each of said side bodies having a topWall, the inner marginal portion of which being cut out substantiallyfrom one end of said top wall to the other but terminating a suiiicientdistance inwardly of the ends to provide top ledges, a top membersupported by the main body for up and down'movement, posts hingedlyconnected to outer marginal portions .of the top member and to the outerend portions of the top ledges of the side bodies to raise the topmember when theside bodies are moved outwardly andto hold the top memberraised while the side bodies are extended, a housing hingedly connectedto the inner marginal portion of the cut out portion of the top wall ofeach of the side bodies and swinging into a position to close the spacebetween the side body when extended and the top member when raised, saidhousing being of a lengthsubstantially equal to the length of the`

